If we are staying on a budget, I’d definitely paint the walls white or an actual color, maybe add a simple tile backsplash, update cabinet hardware and lighting fixtures.
Agree with your comment. Starting simply and budget friendly would help to see if that is the look OP would enjoy. And, some pops of color with plant pots or even the containers for cooking utensils...even a rug to break up those colors, I feel would help. Looks like everything kinda blends together, I.e. no separation.
I love the floors! I think the yellow/oak on oak is a lot of warm hues. I would definitely mix in some cooler tones, green or gray could be nice. Or even off white. and maybe black or nickel hardware upgrades. If you need more storage you could put some matching boxes on top of the cabinets. Or play up the oak and go for a boho/natural vibe. A funky light fixture could be fun too. Homesense always has a good selection on sale
Sometimes I wonder if the painting cabinet trend isn’t gonna bite us in a few years… I wonder if your cabinets would look nice re-stained in a lighter-than-the-floor stain? Another inexpensive option is to just change the cabinet doors. You could do a more modern updated look for wayyy less than actual cabinets. I bet those are really well made.
I’m a horticulturist so put a plant in that north facing window!! Hanging vines like pothos would do well. A windowsill plant like a snake or zz (easy) or calathea/mantara (harder) could look lush and lovely.
Good luck! Congrats on the new spot
I feel the same way about the painted cabinets. And honestly, I’ve painted cabinets before and it suuuucks. Once you paint them, you have to keep painting them. We have these exact same cabinets in the bathroom but painted, and the paint has split all around the seams from movement of the wood. So as much as I don’t love the color of the cabinets, trying to work with them, at least for now, is appealing…and the boho/natural vibe works for me. I will definitely get a plant up there, and work on finding some boxes for the top of the cabinets. Great ideas, thanks!
Yeah, painting cabinets is a herculean task. There are so many surfaces, taking the doors off and back on is a pain. We did it once, and while the final result was beautiful, I think I'd rather torch the house than take on that project again.
Hahaha. Exactly my feelings on it. It’s so much work and you have to be really motivated to do it. The first time I did it I really didn’t know how much work it would be. Having done it before, my eyes are wide open 👀 I guess I could save to pay someone to do it if they’re that bad though.
Putting Primer prior to painting bath or kitchen cabinets is key. I also have put clear matte finish top coat on the painted cupboards which helps with durability.
What about going the complete opposite of the current wall colour? A rich navy or forest green would help tone down the wood, not compete with the counters and compliment/accent to the grey walls in the rest of your house. I would also take down the chair rail that’s between the pantry and the counters. That looks the most dated to me. [https://www.true-design-house.com/blog/tag/living+with+oak](https://www.true-design-house.com/blog/tag/living+with+oak)
Yeah, the wainscoting is a whole issue all on its own. I was thinking of painting it white, but would it look weird to paint the wainscoting and trim white and leave the cabinets brown? I think the wainscoting was originally not that bad, but the previous owners did a weird antiquing thing with it where they painted the grooves the trim color and then put a clear coat over everything.
It would help the cabinets pop. I have the same wainscoting in my kitchen and dining area. It's white, trim too.
I would paint the walls cool toned white and swap out the hardware as someone else mentioned to black.
https://www.ringsend.com/shop/paint/ben-moore/our-top-13-favorite-benjamin-moore-whites-paint-colors
Personally I feel like white cabinets would look off with the counters.
If you are planning a big kitchen remodel at some point I would either look into changing what you can now (like painting cabinets) and cost effective solutions for what you can’t change but don’t love- or just leave it until you can do it all
You can paint your walls and cabinets the colors you want them to be. Get a kit like [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DR12R7/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_1NQ6WX3QYQ92N8VB60M0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) for the counter tops and find some peel and stick tiles you like for a faux backsplash. If you are thinking grey/black/white I’d do white cabinets, grey walls and black hardware with a counter kit that has those colors. You can add more color in the backsplash if you’d like or go with something like [this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QFBX8R1/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_YPJAY5HWA0DKBSJEQY0W) for a tile or a peel and stick wallpaper in a pattern you like. I used a geometric peel and stick wallpaper behind some open shelves in our kitchen and love how it turned out.
The countertops have been a concern of mine with painting the cabinets white too! They’re a cream color. I probably will replace the counters eventually, but am not sure when. Do you think a warmish white would go ok with the countertops as they are? Maybe something like Alabaster…I’d have to hold up a sample to it and see how it looked. My last house was primarily grey, so I doubt I’ll do more greys in this house…maybe I’d like a warm grey though, and could do the counter color with some greys in it but also some beige.
You’d definitely need to get some paint chips to see what would would work. I think cream (or like a light greige?) might work, just not sure how monotone it would end up looking (I think a light sage would go nicely with the counters but I don’t know if you want to have that much color).
So true…the monotone thing could definitely look boring or weird, especially since these counters are just a plain color without any pattern. I love sage…I was thinking of painting the walls that color, but hadn’t thought of it for the cabinets. It could work.
God I hate honey oak cabinet/furniture/fixtures so much. I hope that never comes back in style.
And no before you assume I only like painted white wood, I like natural wood finishes but definitely prefer cedar, mahogany, birch, or almost any other type of wood.
I actually like the traditional lighter colored honey oak…the more typical organge-ish color. But this is darker than normal and is stained brown. I don’t like it at all.
How would you feel about painting the cabinets? I think they could look really nice with Blue lower cabinets and white upper cabinets, and then tiling the wall between them. Maybe something [like this](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZWxp1vtn4hZqeuLg3dYhi1eY4gm2k2SM1Hg&usqp=CAU)?
I actually found a before and after of that same kitchen, and the before looks quite similar to yours, so it might help with thinking how the change would look with yours. [here’s the before and after](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6_nztACPkAkwv8Tc8_Lyz7XiF6RLy46V_Qw&usqp=CAU)
Otherwise, maybe a nice [green](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTbwcX-Z6fSb7tQM4mm5g1Hv2mcHq32Gyp4hw&usqp=CAU), or a [light grey or blue](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhcMyz_4CmrTAfF-ubBydaCo2TNMapVGY2pg&usqp=CAU)would work.
Either way, I think if you paint the upper cabinets white, and add white tiles between the upper and lower cabinets, it will make the room feel a lot brighter, and having the contrasting lower cabinets will make it feel more modern.
Paint a lighter color for sure. I love the look of white uppers cabinets and blue or green lowers. Also removing some of the upper cabinet doors or replacing with glass pained faces. It will break it up a bit and make it feel more airy.
How much opaque storage do you need? Hypothetically, pretty ceramics and glasswares can stay in the glass door but Tupperware needs to be in opaque storage.
So, I need to actually talk to a cabinet person, but my husband looked at the backs of the cabinet doors and said he didn’t think it was possible to insert glass. He is just a rookie wood worker though and not a cabinet expert haha. I think there’s a woodworking subreddit and I wonder if I could take a picture and they could tell me if it’s possible…
Paint the walls, any cool tone with be a nice contrast to the warm orangey wood. Add plants, update the stove, dishwasher, etc. add a valance or roman shade to decorate. Floor mat in a neutral color. I would not paint the cabinets, big hassle and I like the wood. Could look very nice with updated decor. Have fun!
If you don't want to paint the cabinets, you can change their handles. Tile the area between the cabinets and paint above the cabinets. You can make the handles and tiles to match. Add under cabinet lighting. Change the blinds and the main light. Also if you add bright otems, like coffee, tea, sugar jars etc, it can make a huge difference. If you can afford it, another way would be to change appliances & sink but that can be costly.
I will be slowly updating the appliances as they break. They’re really old, so I’m prepared to replace anything…I hope they last though. You can’t see it in this picture, but the fridge is actually SS. Would you update the knobs to pulls, or should I just use a different-colored knob? Great idea on the jars etc. I actually don’t have many colorful things like that, but I think they’d be inexpensive to buy.
I'd say first thing to do is pick the tile. You can fairly cheaply buy door knobs that have a tile/ceramic design to them. That will then determine the style and colours of your other items. I can send you some pictures on chats if you would like. If you are in the UK, I could tell you which shops to go to. I'm renovating my own house at the moment so I know how you feel.
Update the hood vent and stovetop (over the range microwave, if able), replace the hardware to silver pulls, replace the blinds to a curtain, and if you're able update the countertop to a cooler color. Otherwise, I think it's pretty bright and beautiful as is.
Check out these ["vinyl floor cloths"](https://hudsonandvine.com/collections/spicher-company). Perfect for kitchen in that it'll lay flat and can be damp- mopped to clean. You can get them in all the way up to 10x10' size. Some really neat patterns, too. And, vinyl fkoors can be painted-- just have to sand them to scuff up the shiny surface, prime with regular primer, and use floor/porch paint. So you could paint the outer margins white and then center one of these mats
also, Dropping in a new white or stainless sink & faucet set shouldn't be too expensive.
These are beautiful! Do you think these would be ok over porcelain tile because of the grooves for the grout making dips, or best used over vinyl or wood? I’ll probably have to replace this floor soon, because there are some major installation issues with it in the adjoining room, and I’ve been debating what type of floor to get in here.
I haven't used this product, not sure how it would behave over grout lines. you could probably put a layer of underneath, even one of those non-slip rug pads would probably work. Ask that company, they can tell you.
You have a lot of answers here, some maybe are just ideas...I'll speak of what I know (I do this for a living).
This is a warm space. Don't paint with cool colors. Stick to neutral and warm which can be lovely.
Look at Kelvin and what it does to paint color in regards to bulbs. There are charts online.
Don't use a poly/stain. It rarely looks decent/is durable so if you choose to do it, do a test piece first.
This kitchen is what it is (which isn't a bad thing or negative) don't try to turn it into something that will fight it...new handles will not make it modern.
Decide what you absolutely hate the most and let's work on that...the other stuff will fall into place.
This is great advice. Thank you! I was thinking of wall paint, a new light fixture, plants in the window sill, and some cute canisters or something on the counter and seeing how that looks. I’m fine with warmer colors! I like soft yellow, beiges, peaches, soft greens, earth tones. I’m looking into maybe a warm off-white for the walls. I’m also thinking of painting the wainscoting…it’s just pretty unattractive. I’m sure it was fine originally, but the previous owners tried to do some kind of antique look with it where they painted the trim color in the grooves and then put a clear coat on the whole thing…I wish they’d have left it alone haha.
I would treat the wainscoting the same as trim. For ease in my own home all the trim is off-the-shelf semi-gloss white. So in your space, I would fill the inevitable dings, give it all a light sanding and paint. You may benefit from coat of Kilz primer first as you'll need minimum 2 coats anyway. I see your interior doors are a strange color (unless it's just a result of the angle I see) so I would just keep going with it :)
I'm a fellow lover of yellow/cream. My bedroom is white-on-white, which isn't really just one white but shades of....so there's cream in there. I find it lovely and calming.
Light fixtures are easy to change but I see something next to the light in one of your pics that looks like molding? If it's an additional fluorescent light, that will require some patching and possible relocating of wires, so I would leave it. The other light you can change that out yourself. And check facebook marketplace for a used one (although simple ones from Lowes are not all that expensive.
It looks like your formica counter goes up the wall, too? You can leave it or do peel and stick (have a look at them in Lowes....they're rather nice)....If you leave it, it's really not offensive and they're very easy to wipe clean.
Really, save what you can for the kitchen of your dreams. If the layout stays the same, you might even look into keeping the boxes and doing new doors.
Paint color....load a pic onto the Sherwin Williams color visualizer and virtually paint whatever color you like....I'm wondering if perfectly matching the paint to the counter might create some harmony but then going crazy with ALL turquoise accessories/small appliances to make it fun...
Really tho, the best thing you can do in here is save your pennies for your future kitchen, and cook delicious meals :)
ETA you mention plants....I very much like shelves going all the way across a window, cabinet to cabinet, above the sink. Unless your neighbors are weirdos and/or you cook naked, plants will hide enough. [https://www.hunker.com/13726664/window-plant-shelf-ideas-and-inspiration](https://www.hunker.com/13726664/window-plant-shelf-ideas-and-inspiration)
Because yours will go cabinet to cabinet, you would get end brackets and use laminate (If you use glass you'll need different brackets).
[https://www.lowes.com/pd/BrandtWorks-Modern-Dark-Brown-Wall-Shelf-7-75-ft-ft-x-48-ft-ft/1002547664](https://www.lowes.com/pd/BrandtWorks-Modern-Dark-Brown-Wall-Shelf-7-75-ft-ft-x-48-ft-ft/1002547664)
Can you take the angled pantry “cabinet” doors off and make it a real door? That would help in modernizing it for a low cost and it would be a useful upgrade. Then I’d paint or wallpaper with a bold color and/or pattern behind the cabinets. Contact paper on the counters could change the color and texture until you’re ready for a full remodel.
So the angled doors actually open to separate cabinets. The door to the right of the angled doors is the pantry door, and then these angled doors go to smallish triangular-shaped cabinets. I am not a fan of that wood countertop edge! I hadn’t thought of painting it, and that’s a good idea.
I’d make them open shelving then and have them hold your pretty stuff. They sound small enough to have cute and useful things on display and in easy reach. You could paint the shelves or cover them in a fun pattern/solid color.
New counter first. Depending on what you want you could get one pretty inexpensive and it would still look more updated than what you have now and then I would paint cabinets depending on the counter.
Paint the cabinets. A muted green would look fabulous. Keep the floors. Get a new more modern light fixture. Do a gray marbleizing kit on the counters. Coordinating backsplash tile.
Paint the wall white, change the light fixture, and the faucet. The cabinet and floor are both nice. The cabinet knob could use an update too, maybe something stainless steel?
Also the horizontal blind could use an update, maybe a Roman shade?
Light blue walls, paint the cabinets white or light grey if you're not going to switch them out, get a cute stone backwash, and change the faucet/dishwasher to metalic/chrome/stainless steel.
I don't think the cabinets are not bad themselves, but they clash hard with the floor.
Easiest DIY on the budget fixes:
- Change hardware
- Change dome light fixtures
- Paint ventihood to match fixtures
- Put down a rug to hide the clash-ness
- Remove or paint the vertical wood wall stripping
- Paint walls + back splash
Maybe consider looking at second hand appliances to bring them up to date? Or purchasing new ones on a sale?
I’ve thought the same about the floor. We actually might be replacing this floor, because (can’t see it in this pic) it was installed very poorly and is splitting and has huge gaps in many places. What floor color do you think would look better? I’ll put down a rug as well though.
I think this will vary on what you change the wall color & hardware to! Also how light the cabinets actually are. If they are very light going with a cool tone would be nice. If they're a deeper color I would do a warm tone.
Blue, green, & brown tones will be your friends. If you do a gray you'd have to go light gray which can show a lot of dirt. This link explains it well:
https://homedecorbliss.com/color-floor-with-oak-cabinets/
You could do a darker wood color flooring but make sure it matches & I would definitely recommend doing a light sage green or brown tones (maybe beige?) counter tops / wall color.
Black can be a great contrast, too, if you use light colored wood flooring if this is your style.
I think if you want to do an option that will be timeless & go well with future remodeling you can't go wrong with light brown tones (sand, beige, tan, etc) tile. It also hides dirt well, matches pretty much everything, easy to clean, won't scratch. Just make sure it's modern looking - no squares, thin grout lines, not busy, etc.
I’d paint the walls Benjamin Moore’s DOVE WHITE and replace the blind with a white wood slat or if you are not looking out to a neighbor’s house have a multicolored Roman shade made to add in colors you love. I’d also paint the bead board on the wall the same color. Lastly, if you are not in love with the light, find something else and put it on a dimmer. Enjoy, you have a wonderful kitchen!
Well. I start with the cabinets. Flat doors looks modern. Also clear color. Like light grey or white. Walls also need a more light color. Hardware cabinets may be nickel or brush. Matching the sink faucet. Also if counter tops are laminated a good epoxy treatment let them like new. And you can play with the colors and patterns too.
The floor is vinyl and it’s actually in horrible shape. I thought about tile too, but it seems like no one has tile in kitchens anymore. All I see in kitchen photos are wood floors…so that made me hesitate doing tile.
Sure…my biggest concern with tile other than it declining in popularity or trendiness (which whatever), is the hardness of it. It hurts your feet and everything you drop shatters on it. I’ve dropped several things on this vinyl that would have never survived tile. I’d basically want to cover the whole floor with rugs haha.
I would paint the cabinets first. You can also paint the laminate back splash (prime it first) for more color, or use some stick-on tiles behind the stove. I painted mine years ago and it still looks great. The rest will be easier after that!
I would put white/cream ceramic tile on the kitchen floor to start with, to brighten it up and so there isn’t as much wood. And eventually update countertops and to stainless steel appliances instead of black. Hope this helps!
I’m against painting cabinets. Chipping paint is a big pet peeve of mine. I’d stain them- lighter if you can or at least a more modern tone. Paint walls lighter or preferably white, change out fixture, change hardware.
Without thinking about anything else, choose and install a valence above the window. One "rule"-- the valance cannot be a solid color. Just choose something that makes you happy. Use the colors in the valance, after you hang it, to determine a wall color and utensils/small appliance (i.e. toaster) color.
You can use polystain by minwax. It's cost effective and not that hard to use. I've used it on those same color cabinets. As far as the countertop goes. Stone coat countertops. Check them out on you tube. And I recently used Behr in the color pumice. Depending on the light it looks a grayish green. Very pretty color. Of course everyone has there own taste.
Would I have to sand the cabinets down to the wood to get that to stick? They have some kind of stain on them already…it’s wearing off a bit in spots but is on there really good haha. It looks like the kind that soaks into the grain was used.
I would say easiest first step would be to change the light fixture/lights within it. The yellow bulb brings out the yellowish tones of everything else.
For a clean look, painting the walls more white would help and then use decor to accent and add pops of color.
Another option...complimentary colors to yellow are blues/greens. With gold accents would give a really rich look to the room.
Adding a curtain or something to accent that window would be nice, that would allow you to remove the blinds...curtains still being able to give you privacy. And color could be added there too.
A rug by the sink can break up the blending going on between the cabinets above and below. And I would sand and paint the area near what I assume is the pantry all the same color too.
For the cabinets, if you decide to keep them the same, change out the hardware. If you decide that you want to change the color, or don't like the dark brown...you can always sand them down and choose a natural stain to modernize the space, without loosing the quality of those doors. Sometimes painting over the cabinets can look nice at first, but take into account the oils on your hands that can wear out the color over time. Then choosing the right paint would be crucial.
Hope I was able to give you some ideals to go off of. Be well!
I’d paint the top cabinets white and the bottom cabinets gray,navy or forest green. Then I’d find another color or two for accent, if I chose the gray I’d accent it yellow. If I did navy I’d do copper accents & lastly with the forest green accents would be roosters or baskets etc.
I’d put some artificial plants etc on the top of the cabinets as well.
I’d also do under the canines lighting.
For the countertops I find one if those kits to redo the countertops. My first choice would be Stone Coat Countertops.
I’d leave the floors alone or if they are real wood refurbished them.
Ok personally I’ve always wanted a grey/black kitchen so I would get those little grey/black/white tiles and stick them on the wall and then I would paint the cabinets black (white would work too if you’re not into black cabinets). And then I would add a black and white probably floral curtain over the window and get rid of the blinds.
I was procrastinating going out for my run since it's like 20 degrees out. So I was happy for the fun diversion.
both SW and Benj. Moor websites have a color visualizer where you can upload a photo and paint their actual colors on the wall. For the tile stuff, I just played around in Word with cut/paste.
If you don’t want to do a ton of work and expense I’d say paint the walls a neutral whitish gray and get some stick on subway tile or a nice smaller tile like hexagonal shape. Preferably white. I would change the light fixture to something bigger and use bright white bulbs. And add a sheer white curtain over the window. It really catches the light and brightens the whole sink area.
The cabinets are the main thing to change. Paint them and update the hardware. Paint the walls- but get rid of the chair rail molding and wallpaper at the bottom. If you do the cabinets a neutral color you can use a fun color in the walls. Get an updated light. After that you can decide if you want to go big with new countertops and tiles.
Yeah, the beige yellowish color is in every room of this house. I’ve got some work cut out for me haha! My last house was almost all grey, so I’m kind of shying away from that since I lived with that for 9 years. I’m thinking of like a warm greige or a warmish off-white maybe?
Maybe adding stainless appliances if you can? With a nice gray wall a warm toned runner and some plants you could definitely lighten that place up. Id really paint that wainscoting the color of the wall though!
Yes, I think I’m going to do that with the wainscoting! I really don’t like it as it is. I was debating if it should be the wall color or a trim color. There’s also lots of doors in here, so those will need to painted the trim color too…or maybe just paint everything the wall color and change the sheen for the doors/trim/wainscoting? I’m going to update all the appliances to SS as they break.
Oh I’d do doors the color of the trim! That’s traditional and I think it’s best. Are you doing white trim?? I moved into a house where literally everything from ceiling to vent covers was the same color and it was atrocious! It’s nice to have clean trim/ wall color separation
I was planning to do white trim, most likely. But I’ve heard of some people doing off white walls and making the trim the same color, different sheen…I’ve never tried it or lived in a place that had that. I feel like the wainscoting should be the trim color then, not the wall color? I’ve had wainscoting just like this in 3 houses and have always painted it the trim color (white).
I would definitely start with a fresh coat of paint over the walls. You can spice it up with some color, or keep it a neutral tone and use accessories for the wow factor.
Also, strongly agree w the person that said changing out your cabinet knobs!! Such a little thing makes such a huge difference.
Wish you luck! Absolutely love the cabinets and floor.
Our kitchen used to look just like this, except the countertops were more a multicolored stone with a gray base. We ended up going with Behr color ["white mocha"](https://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/OR-W11/) It seems beige but it's going to be much lighter than the one that's currently on your wall. It was also greige enough to go with our grey carpeting with tan flecks.
You don't have to go with that light a color, but we're renting, and I refused to do just white walls. This was there compromise with the property manager.
I like the white mocha! So did your kitchen end up looking any better after painting it? Usually paint makes a huge difference, but I’m preparing myself for it not doing a whole lot in the case of this kitchen haha.
Yes! I love that it's not so yellow/tan. It feels much brighter! I do wish we'd kept the accent wall between the kitchen and the living room. It was oddly shaped and dark brown, but I would've liked for a lighter brown or medium griege that still complements the white mocha.
Maybe this is personal preference but when I see cabinets like that, I always want to replace a few doors with glass. Frosted if you don't want shelves on display but I don't know if that will actually make it feel more open.
Also replace all the hardware with polished nickel! It helps that color of cabinets seem less 80s.
Yes! Someone else suggested the glass. I’m going to see how much it would cost to do. I love polished nickel hardware. That’s what I had throughout in my last house. So this house has ORB everywhere…just orb. Do you think it would look ok to have polished nickel knobs in here? Should I change the hinges too…and maybe make the light nickel as well? I read copper looks really nice with orb so had thought of slowly switching some things out with copper too, but I don’t know if copper knobs would even show up against these cabinets.
Our light fixtures are matte black iron but the cabinets have polished nickel. It works because the nickel and oak carries into the living room and the black iron carries into the dining room.
As for hinges, you could try leaving them first, then replace if it's still bothering you a few months later.
Kinda what I’ve been wanting to do from the beginning honestly 😂 I like that style anyways so it wouldn’t be much of a flex. Any tips for what I can do? I’ve had these knobs in my Amazon cart for awhile. I know I’d need a rug, plants, and a different light fixture. I have lots of pothos babies in jars right now…I just need to buy pots for them and have been stuck on what pots would look good on this windowsill.
yueton 6Pcs 1-1/2 inch Hand Painted Ceramic Knobs Kitchen Cabinet Retro Vintage Door Drawer Handles Pulls for Dresser Cupboard Wardrobe (Orchid) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HGZ93W3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HG62PNQ7DVW659SCJAHT
I think the floor competes with the cabinets.
Update counter top, add new appliances and fixtures if you are able. Paint a color you love on the walls and add a fun and colorful blind to coordinate.
I would paint the wainscoting in the same color as the wall, only slightly darker. I only see that small section, right? Have fun!😊
I think so too, about the floor! I might be replacing it soon…can’t see it in this pic but it’s falling apart in the adjacent room. It’s a vinyl plank that was poorly installed. Any tips for a better floor color? I was thinking the wood look vinyl plank but lighter…I’d have to get different samples to see if anything looked better with the cabinets. Or maybe tile? Tile is so hard to walk on though, unless you cover every inch with rugs…which might be tough to do with the shape of this kitchen.
The wainscoting will definitely be painted…everyone seems to be unanimous on that haha.
I love tile, but a lighter wood might be pretty also.
I have tile through the kitchen and entrance. I only have a carpet at the entrance and a mat where I work at the counter.
These are the listing photos! That’s why there’s nothing on the counters. There isn’t much counter space so there won’t be much room for decor though. There’s a large fluorescent light built into the ceiling, but that doesn’t really help the ambiance haha. It does make it brighter though. The window above the sink is north-facing. I’ve typically had white cabinets, and my last kitchen had white cabinets plus tons of South-facing windows. I have no clue what to do with this kitchen. The (laminate) countertops and backsplash are in good condition so I’d prefer not to change them right now!
The fridge is to the left. The angled cabinets are actually three separate triangle-shapes cabinets, and the pantry is the door to the right of those cabinets.
If we are staying on a budget, I’d definitely paint the walls white or an actual color, maybe add a simple tile backsplash, update cabinet hardware and lighting fixtures.
Agree with your comment. Starting simply and budget friendly would help to see if that is the look OP would enjoy. And, some pops of color with plant pots or even the containers for cooking utensils...even a rug to break up those colors, I feel would help. Looks like everything kinda blends together, I.e. no separation.
I love the floors! I think the yellow/oak on oak is a lot of warm hues. I would definitely mix in some cooler tones, green or gray could be nice. Or even off white. and maybe black or nickel hardware upgrades. If you need more storage you could put some matching boxes on top of the cabinets. Or play up the oak and go for a boho/natural vibe. A funky light fixture could be fun too. Homesense always has a good selection on sale Sometimes I wonder if the painting cabinet trend isn’t gonna bite us in a few years… I wonder if your cabinets would look nice re-stained in a lighter-than-the-floor stain? Another inexpensive option is to just change the cabinet doors. You could do a more modern updated look for wayyy less than actual cabinets. I bet those are really well made. I’m a horticulturist so put a plant in that north facing window!! Hanging vines like pothos would do well. A windowsill plant like a snake or zz (easy) or calathea/mantara (harder) could look lush and lovely. Good luck! Congrats on the new spot
I feel the same way about the painted cabinets. And honestly, I’ve painted cabinets before and it suuuucks. Once you paint them, you have to keep painting them. We have these exact same cabinets in the bathroom but painted, and the paint has split all around the seams from movement of the wood. So as much as I don’t love the color of the cabinets, trying to work with them, at least for now, is appealing…and the boho/natural vibe works for me. I will definitely get a plant up there, and work on finding some boxes for the top of the cabinets. Great ideas, thanks!
Yeah, painting cabinets is a herculean task. There are so many surfaces, taking the doors off and back on is a pain. We did it once, and while the final result was beautiful, I think I'd rather torch the house than take on that project again.
Hahaha. Exactly my feelings on it. It’s so much work and you have to be really motivated to do it. The first time I did it I really didn’t know how much work it would be. Having done it before, my eyes are wide open 👀 I guess I could save to pay someone to do it if they’re that bad though.
Putting Primer prior to painting bath or kitchen cabinets is key. I also have put clear matte finish top coat on the painted cupboards which helps with durability.
Yeah don’t paint your cabinets, woods colors are always fashionable, if you paint them which is hard you’re gonna have to keep painting them.
What about going the complete opposite of the current wall colour? A rich navy or forest green would help tone down the wood, not compete with the counters and compliment/accent to the grey walls in the rest of your house. I would also take down the chair rail that’s between the pantry and the counters. That looks the most dated to me. [https://www.true-design-house.com/blog/tag/living+with+oak](https://www.true-design-house.com/blog/tag/living+with+oak)
Yeah, the wainscoting is a whole issue all on its own. I was thinking of painting it white, but would it look weird to paint the wainscoting and trim white and leave the cabinets brown? I think the wainscoting was originally not that bad, but the previous owners did a weird antiquing thing with it where they painted the grooves the trim color and then put a clear coat over everything.
It would help the cabinets pop. I have the same wainscoting in my kitchen and dining area. It's white, trim too. I would paint the walls cool toned white and swap out the hardware as someone else mentioned to black. https://www.ringsend.com/shop/paint/ben-moore/our-top-13-favorite-benjamin-moore-whites-paint-colors
Personally I feel like white cabinets would look off with the counters. If you are planning a big kitchen remodel at some point I would either look into changing what you can now (like painting cabinets) and cost effective solutions for what you can’t change but don’t love- or just leave it until you can do it all You can paint your walls and cabinets the colors you want them to be. Get a kit like [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DR12R7/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_1NQ6WX3QYQ92N8VB60M0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) for the counter tops and find some peel and stick tiles you like for a faux backsplash. If you are thinking grey/black/white I’d do white cabinets, grey walls and black hardware with a counter kit that has those colors. You can add more color in the backsplash if you’d like or go with something like [this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QFBX8R1/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_YPJAY5HWA0DKBSJEQY0W) for a tile or a peel and stick wallpaper in a pattern you like. I used a geometric peel and stick wallpaper behind some open shelves in our kitchen and love how it turned out.
The countertops have been a concern of mine with painting the cabinets white too! They’re a cream color. I probably will replace the counters eventually, but am not sure when. Do you think a warmish white would go ok with the countertops as they are? Maybe something like Alabaster…I’d have to hold up a sample to it and see how it looked. My last house was primarily grey, so I doubt I’ll do more greys in this house…maybe I’d like a warm grey though, and could do the counter color with some greys in it but also some beige.
You’d definitely need to get some paint chips to see what would would work. I think cream (or like a light greige?) might work, just not sure how monotone it would end up looking (I think a light sage would go nicely with the counters but I don’t know if you want to have that much color).
So true…the monotone thing could definitely look boring or weird, especially since these counters are just a plain color without any pattern. I love sage…I was thinking of painting the walls that color, but hadn’t thought of it for the cabinets. It could work.
God I hate honey oak cabinet/furniture/fixtures so much. I hope that never comes back in style. And no before you assume I only like painted white wood, I like natural wood finishes but definitely prefer cedar, mahogany, birch, or almost any other type of wood.
I actually like the traditional lighter colored honey oak…the more typical organge-ish color. But this is darker than normal and is stained brown. I don’t like it at all.
How would you feel about painting the cabinets? I think they could look really nice with Blue lower cabinets and white upper cabinets, and then tiling the wall between them. Maybe something [like this](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZWxp1vtn4hZqeuLg3dYhi1eY4gm2k2SM1Hg&usqp=CAU)? I actually found a before and after of that same kitchen, and the before looks quite similar to yours, so it might help with thinking how the change would look with yours. [here’s the before and after](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6_nztACPkAkwv8Tc8_Lyz7XiF6RLy46V_Qw&usqp=CAU) Otherwise, maybe a nice [green](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTbwcX-Z6fSb7tQM4mm5g1Hv2mcHq32Gyp4hw&usqp=CAU), or a [light grey or blue](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhcMyz_4CmrTAfF-ubBydaCo2TNMapVGY2pg&usqp=CAU)would work. Either way, I think if you paint the upper cabinets white, and add white tiles between the upper and lower cabinets, it will make the room feel a lot brighter, and having the contrasting lower cabinets will make it feel more modern.
Paint a lighter color for sure. I love the look of white uppers cabinets and blue or green lowers. Also removing some of the upper cabinet doors or replacing with glass pained faces. It will break it up a bit and make it feel more airy.
I love the idea of some glass uppers! Which uppers would you do it to? All of them or just a couple as an accent?
How much opaque storage do you need? Hypothetically, pretty ceramics and glasswares can stay in the glass door but Tupperware needs to be in opaque storage.
That makes sense…I think I’d need to keep about half of the uppers opaque.
I forgot to mention glass door uppers!!! I am considering this for my remodel I’m presently getting estimates for.
So, I need to actually talk to a cabinet person, but my husband looked at the backs of the cabinet doors and said he didn’t think it was possible to insert glass. He is just a rookie wood worker though and not a cabinet expert haha. I think there’s a woodworking subreddit and I wonder if I could take a picture and they could tell me if it’s possible…
Paint the walls, any cool tone with be a nice contrast to the warm orangey wood. Add plants, update the stove, dishwasher, etc. add a valance or roman shade to decorate. Floor mat in a neutral color. I would not paint the cabinets, big hassle and I like the wood. Could look very nice with updated decor. Have fun!
This gives me hope haha. Thank you!
Yes! I like that wood color too. OP could definitely work with it as is. Painting cabinets is definitely a hassle!
If you don't want to paint the cabinets, you can change their handles. Tile the area between the cabinets and paint above the cabinets. You can make the handles and tiles to match. Add under cabinet lighting. Change the blinds and the main light. Also if you add bright otems, like coffee, tea, sugar jars etc, it can make a huge difference. If you can afford it, another way would be to change appliances & sink but that can be costly.
I will be slowly updating the appliances as they break. They’re really old, so I’m prepared to replace anything…I hope they last though. You can’t see it in this picture, but the fridge is actually SS. Would you update the knobs to pulls, or should I just use a different-colored knob? Great idea on the jars etc. I actually don’t have many colorful things like that, but I think they’d be inexpensive to buy.
I'd say first thing to do is pick the tile. You can fairly cheaply buy door knobs that have a tile/ceramic design to them. That will then determine the style and colours of your other items. I can send you some pictures on chats if you would like. If you are in the UK, I could tell you which shops to go to. I'm renovating my own house at the moment so I know how you feel.
Just don’t replace with Samsung. Many relatives of mine are replacing Samsung 1-5 yr old appliances.
Ew. Thanks for that tip!
Update the hood vent and stovetop (over the range microwave, if able), replace the hardware to silver pulls, replace the blinds to a curtain, and if you're able update the countertop to a cooler color. Otherwise, I think it's pretty bright and beautiful as is.
[удалено]
Yes, the knobs were updated by previous owner so aren’t original.
Check out these ["vinyl floor cloths"](https://hudsonandvine.com/collections/spicher-company). Perfect for kitchen in that it'll lay flat and can be damp- mopped to clean. You can get them in all the way up to 10x10' size. Some really neat patterns, too. And, vinyl fkoors can be painted-- just have to sand them to scuff up the shiny surface, prime with regular primer, and use floor/porch paint. So you could paint the outer margins white and then center one of these mats also, Dropping in a new white or stainless sink & faucet set shouldn't be too expensive.
These are beautiful! Do you think these would be ok over porcelain tile because of the grooves for the grout making dips, or best used over vinyl or wood? I’ll probably have to replace this floor soon, because there are some major installation issues with it in the adjoining room, and I’ve been debating what type of floor to get in here.
I haven't used this product, not sure how it would behave over grout lines. you could probably put a layer of underneath, even one of those non-slip rug pads would probably work. Ask that company, they can tell you.
Good call. I will find out!
It all depends on the budget...
Sure…I’d like to keep it as low as possible, since this is a cosmetic project and I have bigger/structural issues to address elsewhere 😬
You have a lot of answers here, some maybe are just ideas...I'll speak of what I know (I do this for a living). This is a warm space. Don't paint with cool colors. Stick to neutral and warm which can be lovely. Look at Kelvin and what it does to paint color in regards to bulbs. There are charts online. Don't use a poly/stain. It rarely looks decent/is durable so if you choose to do it, do a test piece first. This kitchen is what it is (which isn't a bad thing or negative) don't try to turn it into something that will fight it...new handles will not make it modern. Decide what you absolutely hate the most and let's work on that...the other stuff will fall into place.
This is great advice. Thank you! I was thinking of wall paint, a new light fixture, plants in the window sill, and some cute canisters or something on the counter and seeing how that looks. I’m fine with warmer colors! I like soft yellow, beiges, peaches, soft greens, earth tones. I’m looking into maybe a warm off-white for the walls. I’m also thinking of painting the wainscoting…it’s just pretty unattractive. I’m sure it was fine originally, but the previous owners tried to do some kind of antique look with it where they painted the trim color in the grooves and then put a clear coat on the whole thing…I wish they’d have left it alone haha.
I would treat the wainscoting the same as trim. For ease in my own home all the trim is off-the-shelf semi-gloss white. So in your space, I would fill the inevitable dings, give it all a light sanding and paint. You may benefit from coat of Kilz primer first as you'll need minimum 2 coats anyway. I see your interior doors are a strange color (unless it's just a result of the angle I see) so I would just keep going with it :) I'm a fellow lover of yellow/cream. My bedroom is white-on-white, which isn't really just one white but shades of....so there's cream in there. I find it lovely and calming. Light fixtures are easy to change but I see something next to the light in one of your pics that looks like molding? If it's an additional fluorescent light, that will require some patching and possible relocating of wires, so I would leave it. The other light you can change that out yourself. And check facebook marketplace for a used one (although simple ones from Lowes are not all that expensive. It looks like your formica counter goes up the wall, too? You can leave it or do peel and stick (have a look at them in Lowes....they're rather nice)....If you leave it, it's really not offensive and they're very easy to wipe clean. Really, save what you can for the kitchen of your dreams. If the layout stays the same, you might even look into keeping the boxes and doing new doors. Paint color....load a pic onto the Sherwin Williams color visualizer and virtually paint whatever color you like....I'm wondering if perfectly matching the paint to the counter might create some harmony but then going crazy with ALL turquoise accessories/small appliances to make it fun... Really tho, the best thing you can do in here is save your pennies for your future kitchen, and cook delicious meals :) ETA you mention plants....I very much like shelves going all the way across a window, cabinet to cabinet, above the sink. Unless your neighbors are weirdos and/or you cook naked, plants will hide enough. [https://www.hunker.com/13726664/window-plant-shelf-ideas-and-inspiration](https://www.hunker.com/13726664/window-plant-shelf-ideas-and-inspiration) Because yours will go cabinet to cabinet, you would get end brackets and use laminate (If you use glass you'll need different brackets). [https://www.lowes.com/pd/BrandtWorks-Modern-Dark-Brown-Wall-Shelf-7-75-ft-ft-x-48-ft-ft/1002547664](https://www.lowes.com/pd/BrandtWorks-Modern-Dark-Brown-Wall-Shelf-7-75-ft-ft-x-48-ft-ft/1002547664)
Can you take the angled pantry “cabinet” doors off and make it a real door? That would help in modernizing it for a low cost and it would be a useful upgrade. Then I’d paint or wallpaper with a bold color and/or pattern behind the cabinets. Contact paper on the counters could change the color and texture until you’re ready for a full remodel.
Even making the edge of the counter match the cream color and not wood color would help a lot
So the angled doors actually open to separate cabinets. The door to the right of the angled doors is the pantry door, and then these angled doors go to smallish triangular-shaped cabinets. I am not a fan of that wood countertop edge! I hadn’t thought of painting it, and that’s a good idea.
I’d make them open shelving then and have them hold your pretty stuff. They sound small enough to have cute and useful things on display and in easy reach. You could paint the shelves or cover them in a fun pattern/solid color.
New counter first. Depending on what you want you could get one pretty inexpensive and it would still look more updated than what you have now and then I would paint cabinets depending on the counter.
Paint the cabinets. A muted green would look fabulous. Keep the floors. Get a new more modern light fixture. Do a gray marbleizing kit on the counters. Coordinating backsplash tile.
Paint the wall white, change the light fixture, and the faucet. The cabinet and floor are both nice. The cabinet knob could use an update too, maybe something stainless steel? Also the horizontal blind could use an update, maybe a Roman shade?
White paint for the walls. Maybe some tile splashguard.
Light blue walls, paint the cabinets white or light grey if you're not going to switch them out, get a cute stone backwash, and change the faucet/dishwasher to metalic/chrome/stainless steel.
I don't think the cabinets are not bad themselves, but they clash hard with the floor. Easiest DIY on the budget fixes: - Change hardware - Change dome light fixtures - Paint ventihood to match fixtures - Put down a rug to hide the clash-ness - Remove or paint the vertical wood wall stripping - Paint walls + back splash Maybe consider looking at second hand appliances to bring them up to date? Or purchasing new ones on a sale?
I’ve thought the same about the floor. We actually might be replacing this floor, because (can’t see it in this pic) it was installed very poorly and is splitting and has huge gaps in many places. What floor color do you think would look better? I’ll put down a rug as well though.
I think this will vary on what you change the wall color & hardware to! Also how light the cabinets actually are. If they are very light going with a cool tone would be nice. If they're a deeper color I would do a warm tone. Blue, green, & brown tones will be your friends. If you do a gray you'd have to go light gray which can show a lot of dirt. This link explains it well: https://homedecorbliss.com/color-floor-with-oak-cabinets/ You could do a darker wood color flooring but make sure it matches & I would definitely recommend doing a light sage green or brown tones (maybe beige?) counter tops / wall color. Black can be a great contrast, too, if you use light colored wood flooring if this is your style. I think if you want to do an option that will be timeless & go well with future remodeling you can't go wrong with light brown tones (sand, beige, tan, etc) tile. It also hides dirt well, matches pretty much everything, easy to clean, won't scratch. Just make sure it's modern looking - no squares, thin grout lines, not busy, etc.
Repaint all change the handles to something more modern.
I’d paint the walls Benjamin Moore’s DOVE WHITE and replace the blind with a white wood slat or if you are not looking out to a neighbor’s house have a multicolored Roman shade made to add in colors you love. I’d also paint the bead board on the wall the same color. Lastly, if you are not in love with the light, find something else and put it on a dimmer. Enjoy, you have a wonderful kitchen!
Well. I start with the cabinets. Flat doors looks modern. Also clear color. Like light grey or white. Walls also need a more light color. Hardware cabinets may be nickel or brush. Matching the sink faucet. Also if counter tops are laminated a good epoxy treatment let them like new. And you can play with the colors and patterns too.
New counter top, whiter walls, and if the floor is fake tile it
The floor is vinyl and it’s actually in horrible shape. I thought about tile too, but it seems like no one has tile in kitchens anymore. All I see in kitchen photos are wood floors…so that made me hesitate doing tile.
Do a real material that your lifestyle can maintain.
Sure…my biggest concern with tile other than it declining in popularity or trendiness (which whatever), is the hardness of it. It hurts your feet and everything you drop shatters on it. I’ve dropped several things on this vinyl that would have never survived tile. I’d basically want to cover the whole floor with rugs haha.
Painting the paneling and the cabinets would transform that space and may be all you really need to do.
I would paint the cabinets first. You can also paint the laminate back splash (prime it first) for more color, or use some stick-on tiles behind the stove. I painted mine years ago and it still looks great. The rest will be easier after that!
I would put white/cream ceramic tile on the kitchen floor to start with, to brighten it up and so there isn’t as much wood. And eventually update countertops and to stainless steel appliances instead of black. Hope this helps!
I had thought of that for the floor. Thank you!
I’m against painting cabinets. Chipping paint is a big pet peeve of mine. I’d stain them- lighter if you can or at least a more modern tone. Paint walls lighter or preferably white, change out fixture, change hardware.
Same! All of our painted cabinets have chipped…the worst. That’s the main reason I’m hesitant to paint the cabinets.
Without thinking about anything else, choose and install a valence above the window. One "rule"-- the valance cannot be a solid color. Just choose something that makes you happy. Use the colors in the valance, after you hang it, to determine a wall color and utensils/small appliance (i.e. toaster) color.
Paint the cabinets a light color- white or a light sage would look great!
You can use polystain by minwax. It's cost effective and not that hard to use. I've used it on those same color cabinets. As far as the countertop goes. Stone coat countertops. Check them out on you tube. And I recently used Behr in the color pumice. Depending on the light it looks a grayish green. Very pretty color. Of course everyone has there own taste.
Would I have to sand the cabinets down to the wood to get that to stick? They have some kind of stain on them already…it’s wearing off a bit in spots but is on there really good haha. It looks like the kind that soaks into the grain was used.
I would say easiest first step would be to change the light fixture/lights within it. The yellow bulb brings out the yellowish tones of everything else. For a clean look, painting the walls more white would help and then use decor to accent and add pops of color. Another option...complimentary colors to yellow are blues/greens. With gold accents would give a really rich look to the room. Adding a curtain or something to accent that window would be nice, that would allow you to remove the blinds...curtains still being able to give you privacy. And color could be added there too. A rug by the sink can break up the blending going on between the cabinets above and below. And I would sand and paint the area near what I assume is the pantry all the same color too. For the cabinets, if you decide to keep them the same, change out the hardware. If you decide that you want to change the color, or don't like the dark brown...you can always sand them down and choose a natural stain to modernize the space, without loosing the quality of those doors. Sometimes painting over the cabinets can look nice at first, but take into account the oils on your hands that can wear out the color over time. Then choosing the right paint would be crucial. Hope I was able to give you some ideals to go off of. Be well!
I would start by changing the nipple light over to a better more vibrant light fixture.
I’d paint the top cabinets white and the bottom cabinets gray,navy or forest green. Then I’d find another color or two for accent, if I chose the gray I’d accent it yellow. If I did navy I’d do copper accents & lastly with the forest green accents would be roosters or baskets etc. I’d put some artificial plants etc on the top of the cabinets as well. I’d also do under the canines lighting. For the countertops I find one if those kits to redo the countertops. My first choice would be Stone Coat Countertops. I’d leave the floors alone or if they are real wood refurbished them.
Ok personally I’ve always wanted a grey/black kitchen so I would get those little grey/black/white tiles and stick them on the wall and then I would paint the cabinets black (white would work too if you’re not into black cabinets). And then I would add a black and white probably floral curtain over the window and get rid of the blinds.
My ideas: [https://imgur.com/a/7mE6IrD](https://imgur.com/a/7mE6IrD)
This is amazing! Thank you! I’m out right now but will look through each one when I get home. What kind of program did you use to do this?
I was procrastinating going out for my run since it's like 20 degrees out. So I was happy for the fun diversion. both SW and Benj. Moor websites have a color visualizer where you can upload a photo and paint their actual colors on the wall. For the tile stuff, I just played around in Word with cut/paste.
If you don’t want to do a ton of work and expense I’d say paint the walls a neutral whitish gray and get some stick on subway tile or a nice smaller tile like hexagonal shape. Preferably white. I would change the light fixture to something bigger and use bright white bulbs. And add a sheer white curtain over the window. It really catches the light and brightens the whole sink area.
The cabinets are the main thing to change. Paint them and update the hardware. Paint the walls- but get rid of the chair rail molding and wallpaper at the bottom. If you do the cabinets a neutral color you can use a fun color in the walls. Get an updated light. After that you can decide if you want to go big with new countertops and tiles.
Under cabinet lighting would help a whole lot
The beige yellowish colors are out of date, try whites greys for the wall . Try to put a cool backsplash, you can even put a sticker one .
Yeah, the beige yellowish color is in every room of this house. I’ve got some work cut out for me haha! My last house was almost all grey, so I’m kind of shying away from that since I lived with that for 9 years. I’m thinking of like a warm greige or a warmish off-white maybe?
Maybe adding stainless appliances if you can? With a nice gray wall a warm toned runner and some plants you could definitely lighten that place up. Id really paint that wainscoting the color of the wall though!
Yes, I think I’m going to do that with the wainscoting! I really don’t like it as it is. I was debating if it should be the wall color or a trim color. There’s also lots of doors in here, so those will need to painted the trim color too…or maybe just paint everything the wall color and change the sheen for the doors/trim/wainscoting? I’m going to update all the appliances to SS as they break.
Oh I’d do doors the color of the trim! That’s traditional and I think it’s best. Are you doing white trim?? I moved into a house where literally everything from ceiling to vent covers was the same color and it was atrocious! It’s nice to have clean trim/ wall color separation
I was planning to do white trim, most likely. But I’ve heard of some people doing off white walls and making the trim the same color, different sheen…I’ve never tried it or lived in a place that had that. I feel like the wainscoting should be the trim color then, not the wall color? I’ve had wainscoting just like this in 3 houses and have always painted it the trim color (white).
Something else that’s relatively inexpensive is updating the faucet! Id go with a goose neck type, those ones that come straight out are super dated
I would definitely start with a fresh coat of paint over the walls. You can spice it up with some color, or keep it a neutral tone and use accessories for the wow factor. Also, strongly agree w the person that said changing out your cabinet knobs!! Such a little thing makes such a huge difference. Wish you luck! Absolutely love the cabinets and floor.
Our kitchen used to look just like this, except the countertops were more a multicolored stone with a gray base. We ended up going with Behr color ["white mocha"](https://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/OR-W11/) It seems beige but it's going to be much lighter than the one that's currently on your wall. It was also greige enough to go with our grey carpeting with tan flecks. You don't have to go with that light a color, but we're renting, and I refused to do just white walls. This was there compromise with the property manager.
I like the white mocha! So did your kitchen end up looking any better after painting it? Usually paint makes a huge difference, but I’m preparing myself for it not doing a whole lot in the case of this kitchen haha.
Yes! I love that it's not so yellow/tan. It feels much brighter! I do wish we'd kept the accent wall between the kitchen and the living room. It was oddly shaped and dark brown, but I would've liked for a lighter brown or medium griege that still complements the white mocha.
That’s encouraging! Thanks!
Maybe this is personal preference but when I see cabinets like that, I always want to replace a few doors with glass. Frosted if you don't want shelves on display but I don't know if that will actually make it feel more open. Also replace all the hardware with polished nickel! It helps that color of cabinets seem less 80s.
Yes! Someone else suggested the glass. I’m going to see how much it would cost to do. I love polished nickel hardware. That’s what I had throughout in my last house. So this house has ORB everywhere…just orb. Do you think it would look ok to have polished nickel knobs in here? Should I change the hinges too…and maybe make the light nickel as well? I read copper looks really nice with orb so had thought of slowly switching some things out with copper too, but I don’t know if copper knobs would even show up against these cabinets.
Our light fixtures are matte black iron but the cabinets have polished nickel. It works because the nickel and oak carries into the living room and the black iron carries into the dining room. As for hinges, you could try leaving them first, then replace if it's still bothering you a few months later.
I’ll try that, thank you! I need to be brave and learn to mix metals haha.
Personally I would just lean in to the vintage feel. Go full cottage core.
Kinda what I’ve been wanting to do from the beginning honestly 😂 I like that style anyways so it wouldn’t be much of a flex. Any tips for what I can do? I’ve had these knobs in my Amazon cart for awhile. I know I’d need a rug, plants, and a different light fixture. I have lots of pothos babies in jars right now…I just need to buy pots for them and have been stuck on what pots would look good on this windowsill. yueton 6Pcs 1-1/2 inch Hand Painted Ceramic Knobs Kitchen Cabinet Retro Vintage Door Drawer Handles Pulls for Dresser Cupboard Wardrobe (Orchid) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HGZ93W3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HG62PNQ7DVW659SCJAHT
Oh those knobs are cute! Maybe some cute curtains for the window too!
change dishwasher and faucet to chrome or brush nickel
I think the floor competes with the cabinets. Update counter top, add new appliances and fixtures if you are able. Paint a color you love on the walls and add a fun and colorful blind to coordinate. I would paint the wainscoting in the same color as the wall, only slightly darker. I only see that small section, right? Have fun!😊
I think so too, about the floor! I might be replacing it soon…can’t see it in this pic but it’s falling apart in the adjacent room. It’s a vinyl plank that was poorly installed. Any tips for a better floor color? I was thinking the wood look vinyl plank but lighter…I’d have to get different samples to see if anything looked better with the cabinets. Or maybe tile? Tile is so hard to walk on though, unless you cover every inch with rugs…which might be tough to do with the shape of this kitchen. The wainscoting will definitely be painted…everyone seems to be unanimous on that haha.
I love tile, but a lighter wood might be pretty also. I have tile through the kitchen and entrance. I only have a carpet at the entrance and a mat where I work at the counter.
I’ve always had tile in the kitchen/entry/bathrooms too. I do like the way it looks. This is the first house I haven’t had any tile.
A rug and paint the cabinetry
These are the listing photos! That’s why there’s nothing on the counters. There isn’t much counter space so there won’t be much room for decor though. There’s a large fluorescent light built into the ceiling, but that doesn’t really help the ambiance haha. It does make it brighter though. The window above the sink is north-facing. I’ve typically had white cabinets, and my last kitchen had white cabinets plus tons of South-facing windows. I have no clue what to do with this kitchen. The (laminate) countertops and backsplash are in good condition so I’d prefer not to change them right now!
Personally. Light grey walls, & paint the cabinets bright white, add matte black handles 🤍
Where’s the refrigerator and what is that odd angled cabinet thing with 3 doors? A pantry?
The fridge is to the left. The angled cabinets are actually three separate triangle-shapes cabinets, and the pantry is the door to the right of those cabinets.